The Natural System of Botany. 



Ill 



Sub-Class L—Exogenje.— Tribe /.— Angiosperm*:. 



Order, Ranunculaceje. The Crowfoot Tribe. 



In our descriptions of those of the natural orders which we 

 intend to mention, we shall follow the method and arrange- 

 ment usually pursued in the best works on the subject, and 

 shall particularly refer to that admirable book, " The Ladies' 

 Botany," of Professor Lindley. In the selection of plants to 

 illustrate the essential characters of each order, we intend 

 however, to be governed by the principle that those are to be 

 preferred which are most familiar to the American reader, and 

 accordingly, when practicable, such will be chosen. 



The species belonging to the Crowfoot tribe, and especially 

 to the genus Ranunculus, are so abundant in the United 

 States, that the one used as the illustration of the order at pre- 

 sent to be considered, can be readily obtained by every one. 

 The most common species is perhaps Ranunculus acris, known 

 by the familiar name of Butter-cup. Let the reader take an 

 individual of this species, while in blossom, and examine with 

 us the parts of the flower. The petals are five, of a brilliant 

 yellow, and underneath them are the sepals of the calyx, also 

 five in number, like small, hairy leaves. Upon separating one 

 of the petals, near its base, on the inside, will be seen a little 

 scale from which exudes honey. Within the corolla are the 

 stamens, which are, with the sepals and petals, separately 

 inserted into the receptacle. In the centre of the flower, are a 

 number of little green grains, collected together, and seated on 

 an elevation of the receptacle. When examined by a magni- 

 fying glass, they are found to be rounded at the bottom, and 

 contracted into a short, curved horn at the top. Each of these 

 grains is a single carpel, the horn-like top is the style, and the 

 tip of this, which is somewhat broader, and more shining, is 

 the stigma. Each carpel contains a single ovule, or young 

 seed. When young, the ovule occupies but a small part of the 

 cavity of the carpel, but afterwards fills it entirely. After the 

 calyx, corolla, and stamens have fallen off, the cluster of car- 

 pels remains, and ripens into the fruit. Their form is not 

 changed, but they increase in size, and become dry, hard, and 

 brown. In this state they are ordinarily called seeds, but in 



